On the phone

Students have often asked me what the hardest part is about being a foreigner in Japan. I tend to give two answers. The first answer is being away from friends and family, and the second is talking on the phone in Japanese.

Hiro's mom just called me, exactly six minutes before my alarm went off this morning. Hiro's away this week on a so-called 'business trip' to Las Vegas, and he said that while he was gone, his family would welcome me to stop by anytime. So, I think that's what just happened.
It was all a blur. I tried to get her slow down, but she was using so many words I couldn't understand that it was hopeless. I *think* she invited me over for dinner tomorrow night?? There was one point in the conversation that I said 'uuuuhhh... I don't get what you're saying, Would you please speak a little more...' and she was off, quickly repeating her point using different words that I didn't understand. All in all, she seemed to prefer a smooth conversation to her actually being comprehended. And I suppose I was too embarrased to stop her after every single sentence and have her repeat it ad nauseum. I somehow gave the impression that I understood, while meanwhile thinking I was giving the impression that I didn't understand. Besides that, anyone who knows me knows that the first ten minutes of my waking up are not such good ones to be communicating information to me. But now that I'm up, I'll go fix myself a glass of aloe yogurt drink and contemplate the wonder of my silly new dilemma.

That being said, she thinks she communicated something, and I know she didn't. Hiro's not around to help me understand, so I guess I'll have to call her back, apologize profusely, and try to pinpoint what she actually asked me. Sigh...