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In response to your question:

You are not alone, it is indeed quite hard to start up and hold a conversation, especially in a foreign language and in sometimes a foreign culture. Though don't worry yourself too much, this happens to many people, even in their own native language! 

Sometimes the best way I find, is to try and find out if that person's passions or hobbies. Maybe they holding a book, or have a sticker on their laptop of a tv show, this can often get people excited and interested in sharing their knowledge with you, and you can in turn, move the conversation onto something similar that you enjoy, so you are both learning something about each other.

If the person is not opening up that much, and you don't know what may interest them, sometimes just bringing up recent events in the community or news can help as it is not too much of a specific topic, which you can then broaden off onto something else that may relate but hold greater interest to you both. Though you'll also probably find some people who would just rather gossip or have small-talk than have an in-depth or interesting conversation, so if you find it hard to keep the conversation and they aren't helping to keep it afloat, don't feel bad to find other people to talk to instead, you'll know when you find them ^__^