I've only biked in Venezuela as far as 3rd world countries go (tho some of Europe's countries in the near past could have been considered 2nd world), so not a lot of advice. However, I have travelled thru several poor countries and it's all the same (but even better with a bike): if someone wants to communicate with you, they'll figure out a way to do it if they don't speak your language. I'm always amazed at how mime sign language works when the participants can't speak with each other. When you're on the bike, people want to communicate even more with you because it's not something they see too often, if at all. Since English is the popular language at the moment (better start learning Chinese though!), usually someone will know some level of it.