Slow early game?

I like the characters, I like the music, I don’t mind turn based combat, I don’t understand the sphere grid, but the game feels so slow. I just got passed the blitzball game (which sucked) and met Auron to go on a boat someplace. I really want to like the game but I’m 7 hours in and beyond the opening hour I feel like nothing has happened really. I don’t plan to give up on it but does the plot get rolling soon? Or just trudge on for a bit?