language barrier

I am used to sitting in a room and making up my own story. In fact it has gotten to the point where I dont even listen to the conversation half the time. Today was no exception. I was sitting in a Japanese tea ceremony lesson, watching, enjoying, not particularly listening. I understood when people were being told off and what they had done wrong. I was content. However when me and my Japanese friend left, she told me she didnt understand half the words they were using, despite the fact they were speaking in Japanese. For me there was no difference to my normal situation. Sometimes its more satisfying being a foreigner in Japan.