Confused by first USMS practice. Expectations vs reality?

Greetings everyone, I am a full time university student and a brand new member to USMS. My first practice was yesterday and I guess you could say it was WAY different than I expected. I apologize in advance this will likely end up being a bit long. I have always loved swimming but the only "formal" classes I have had are limited to the "how not to drown" stuff they teach you in 3rd grade. I am comfortable in the water and swim every chance I get. I am nearing 30 and at 5'4 and 230lbs I am visibly out of shape. I live an active life. I dont drive and easily walk several miles daily. I eat well. But for the most part but I have not been making fitness a priority for the last few years. I have a medical condition that makes it very difficult to lose weight and extremely fatigued all the time. I just got diagnosed and am currently taking medication for it. This has made me feel well enough to take on new challenges. I have decided I want to become a good proficient swimmer. So that brings me to the topic at hand. I first looked at options my school offers (it has a really nice pool). The swim team would be unlikely as I am a beginner. They had some clinics but they are over for the summer. That left masters swim. The community was described as: "USMS programs draw people from all walks of life and provide their members with a community that offers active support for a healthy lifestyle through aquatic fitness, friendship, and camaraderie...... Programs are open to fitness, competitive, open water, and triathlon swimmers alike. Whether you have just taken your first strokes in a swim lesson, are trying to break a national record, or just want to stay fit, U.S. Masters Swimming provides a fun and friendly atmosphere for you to work toward your individual goals. You don't have to be racing the clock to experience the rewards and support found in U.S. Masters Swimming." The school website then directed anyone interested to the main usms website which says (excerp) "This is something a lot of Masters coaches hear. However, most Masters coaches and swimmers don’t care how fast you are. In nearly every program, there are others of similar ability, or those who started where you are and have improved. Don’t let your perceived ability, or lack thereof, hold you back. Although it’s important to have a physical examination before starting any exercise routine, you don’t need to be in shape to start Masters swimming—Masters swimming will help you get there." Etc and so forth. I bolded the most important parts. I got the feeling that USMS is the place that would help me get where I want to be. I also hopefully pictured a social group of like minded folk. So I took the plunge and signed up (paying the non refundable 50$ fee) and all. I already had an appropriate swimsuit (solid one piece for fitness) and goggles. I showed up the next day at practice ready to go. He took one look at me and raised an eyebrow and smirked a little at me. I admit I looked NOTHING like the sleek swimmers already in the pool but still.. not a very nice welcome. It is very intimidating to show up to a place like that as it is. Oh well moving on. I told the coach that I was a beginner and he asked if I knew how to swim. I assumed that meant "are you able to not drown in water". I said yes and then he told me to take a lane and pointed toward a dry erase board with a bunch of stuff on it. I explained that I am a beginner and I do not know what any of that means. He asked me when the last swim lesson I had was (3rd grade?) and then explained that masters swim is for people who have been taking swim lessons their whole life only (not to be confused with most of the members just happened to be at that level). At this point I was REALLY REALLY embarrassed and everyone was looking at me. I told him as politely as I could that I was under the impression based on the usms website that that level of proficiency was not required to join. Apparently (according to him) he has NEVER BEEN to the usms website before. He had no real knowledge of the overall organization itself. This was his first time coaching anything. He had to look at the school pamphlet to even see what was said about it. I explained that I had followed all steps listed in the school pamphlet and I had to sign up and pay the 50$ before I could even show up the first time. (You have to be a member of usms before you can show up at a local team or something) He then tried to tell me to take some swim clinics instead that were 20$ a piece. The money wouldn't have been an issue its just that I had already looked into that option first and they were done for the summer.. which I am surprised he did not know because he teaches them. I was already in the water at this point and I guess he didn't feel like arguing anymore and so he started telling me to do stuff. I listened to instructions and completed the tasks he gave me. He seemed to be giving me instructions out of boredom/mild amusement. I ended up doing what he says is 1100 meters the first day. My shoulders hurt alot from using the kickboard during some of it but otherwise I was ok. The weirdest thing is my heart rate was up but my breathing was normal until the very end. I suddenly couldn't do anything at all and my form fell apart. That was really bizarre! The coach seemed impressed by the end of it and said I did really well and that I can come back if I want...and just work out on my own in a lane near everyone else. Yay.. er...right? I was hoping for a little more interaction I guess but I understand that at this moment Im nothing more than a newbie and no one likes those;) So I guess I would like to know your opinion on all this. Is USMS right for me? Did I completely misread everything? Should I trust this person to train me if he has never coached before and doesn't know anything about the organization itself? He seems very confident in his swimming knowledge and was good at explaining things.. but.. honestly my expectations need to either be managed or completely changed to meet reality. I am always open to the idea that I am in the wrong here too. I dont expect the coach to spend the entire hour on me (really!) Thank you for reading this novel of a post!