Acting Out Instead Of Speaking

In Cambodia I found photographing without Khmer language skills (only spoke a few words) difficult but not impossible. I went into acting out mode, using smile, laughs, nods of the head, hand gestures and various vocal sounds to get the photographs. When I am in Thai I talk extensively, I could not do that in Cambodia (unless they spoke English or Thai), I was forced to use my wits, to  act out what I wanted, I had to try to communicate without words.

I think the photos will be OK but I missed speaking to people. I need to learn more Khmer. I do not only want to make photographs, I also want to understand more about my subjects lives, language is the key to getting to that next level.