How do I relate to her?

I just started middle school just 2 days ago. No close friends are really in any of my cles,so I'm just kinda quiet so far. There's this girl from homeroom that rides my bus and is also my choir partner. She's even more shy than me! The teachers have to help her a lot. At first I didn't know why,but now I'm pretty sure she's from Asia or something. Something tells me that I need a friend,she needs a friend,and that I'm supposed to talk to her. I have spoken in "Sorry"s for bumping into eachother,and "thank-you"s. She asked what my name was,and I told her. I already knew hers from when the teacher took attendence. The longest conversation I had with her,I spoke with a sympathic tone,because I saw her crying at lunch earlier(I regretted that later,I hate it when my mom uses that voice,and it's how I talk to five-year-olds. I don't know how much English she knows,or how much she knows about the American culture. We shared half - smiles in the halls,but how can we really become friends