Good idea you learn some basic Thai. Secondly, you are not going to learn much about Thailand nor the Thais by hanging with other foreigners. My advice spend at least a few months here and see how you handle it.
At the border crossing entering Cambodia the moment I started walking towards the immigration office and a group of super shady characters started hovering behind me I knew we were screwed. From that moment on it was on it was touch and go. By day two already we almost died.
The first and only time I visited Cambodia in 2005 from the moment I crossed the border I was getting screwed. After ten nightmarish days I returned to Thailand. The Thai Immigration said welcome home. I told him I wanted to kiss the ground. NEVER AGAIN!
Sounds like the majority of foreigners not willing to learn the language and take the easy weekly or monthly payments as translator, bed toy , and room cleaner. Don,t moan later after the consequences return looking for you.