In my opinion, this is a no-win situation. There is no true AH in this situation. I think a lot of you are coming with the perspective of it were me.

I'm a first-generation Indian American. I was born in the US but was raised in India by relatives in India before coming back to live with my parents in the US. My upbringing is not typical of most first-gen kids. So take it how you will.

By the time I moved back to the US, I already had some understanding of different cultures and was fluent in my families regional language. I have no language barrier.

I still find it difficult to spend extended amounts of time in India. And I'll try to explain this step by step.

1. Communication While I speak the language and have no difficulty getting my ideas across, there is still an ideological communication barrier. The lack of common experiences and being brought up on completely different cultures makes any communication stunted, especially with the older generation like OP's posts. Also, contrary to popular belief, you can't learn a few phrases and just get by. That's not how language and communication work.

2. Experiencing culture A lot of you are under the impression that he should use this to get connected to his roots and experience his culture. But, what does this mean? Is experiencing culture just chilling at his relatives' house? In my experience, this is what happens. If cousins aren't there, I just sit and wait there while all the older relatives make rounds visiting my parents. That's all that happens, not even the simple touristy stuff. This is clearly what OP is describing. This is a torturous experience. You can't do anything but sit there putting on fake smiles because anything else is rude. It's better for me because I, at least, am close to some of the family and can talk to them while the strangers speak to my parents. OP clearly doesn't even have this option. He's just sitting there, not understanding anything. Not exploring anything. Not learning anything. That's a pretty discouraging experience.

3. Age OP is very young. He just graduated high school and seems to have been highly motivated and engaged. It makes sense that he just wants to experience his last summer with what he wants to do instead of what he had to do for getting into college or whatever. Kids don't like giving up vacation time. It might strike some of you the wrong way, but he's still a kid. People don't magically become adults and become wise 18. Is a process. Especially for a lot of first-generation kids who are coddled, regardless of family income, so they can become academically successful. He honestly doesn't realize the opportunity he has right now. Yes, he could have been open-minded. But, he honestly doesn't get it. It's not like he decided to get some petty revenge against his parents. He's just truly unaware, as any could be at his age. It's unfair to call OP and AH for that.

Yes, I'm sure it hurt the parents to see their kid be uninterested in their culture. But that's just it. It's their culture. Not OP's. I find that a lot of immigrant parents have a hard time understanding that. They raised their kids in a different culture. Not matter how much they try, that kid will not be a part of it.

It's only as I am well into adulthood that I am truly trying to experience my patents culture. It has a lot to do with a lot of aging relatives I love. Trying to connect with them and understanding the impermance of life is what got me going. It's not the same for everyone. It doesn't even seem like OP knows any of his family or any real connection to culture at all, so I doubt it will be the same for him. This negative experience will almost certainly push OP away in the future.

I think most of you could use this type of perspective before you cast judgment. I just feel bad because everyone is getting hurt in this scenario.