<p>So my parents are planning a family trip to India over the summer for about a month. I realize that summers in between high school are really important, and I really don't want to go waste a bunch of time meeting relatives, shopping and just laying around. I know that sounds pretty lame but its true. And I was wondering if there was any way that this trip could be productive, somehow. Like if there is anyway that I could put what I did in a college app (besides in the essay).Like maybe write a narrative/personal story about my adventures? I have no clue. We HAVE to go on this trip because we just bought a house there and are going to see it and since its in the middle of the city, we're probably going to go shopping and eating at restaurants, and traveling to new cities, and meeting my relatives in their villages and cities. So there are many things I'll be doing, but most of the time I'll probably in a vehicle or at someone's home doing nothing. What should I do!!!!</p>
<p>Well… you haven’t said what your long term areas of academic interest are or what year of high school you are in. But some ideas:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Pick a theme (maybe… religious buildings? Native flora? Architecture? Food?) and take a series of photographs to make a portfolio on the topic, then maybe try to use it for a school project next year somehow.</p></li>
<li><p>Look for a way you could do a service project to help someone in India when you get home (see kids without any sports equipment? Raise money for soccer equipement or something when you get home, don’t forget to figure out shipping…).</p></li>
<li><p>Just for personal use, you might ask all your relatives to let you help cook so you can learn some native cooking. You would learn something new, and you might be able to make a college essay about of bonding with your relatives over the process.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Well, language, first of all. If you already speak Hindi (or whatever dialect will be spoken wherever you are) try to become even more conversational, and pick up the idiosyncrasies of the language-- things you can only learn by being there. Keep a diary-- it’ll be good reference if you decide to use any of your adventures in a college essay. </p>
<p>This is also a great chance just to catch up on things. Read a lot. When you’re stuck at home, exercise to keep in shape. Teach yourself Morse Code. Bring along a portable instrument-- recorder, piccolo, guitar/ukulele, harmonica --and teach yourself how to play that, because I’m sure you can include instrumental knowledge on college apps. Learn how to knit or sew or crochet. Memorize the Greek Alphabet. Write a novel or a poetry/short story anthology. Set up a lemonade stand for when you’re at someone’s house-- that counts as entrepreneur-esque business experience! </p>
<p>Or, if all else fails, look for service opportunities. There’s got to be something! You’re right to not want to waste you time. Good luck!</p>
<p>You could read and write about your travels, while learning about culture differences and the history. There is probably a program you could do there</p>
<p>There are high school students whose families are paying big bucks to send them on trips to India so that their children will gain cultural understanding. You get to do it for free! 
Plus, you get to customize your “program” so that you’re doing exactly what you want to do, learning about what you want to do, all with your own motivation. </p>
<p>So, be a tourist. You don’t say if you’ve been to India before, but regardless there will be places to see that you haven’t seen before. Wander the streets (where appropriate). Talk to people. Interview your relatives. Ask your relatives for recommendations on fun things to do, or do “ordinary” things with them like marketing trips or going to the movies. Buy local junk food. Go on travel sites like tripadvisor forums and get recommendations for excellent restaurants in the areas where you’re going. If school will be in session, see if you can spend a day shadowing students at local high schools. What are their math classes like? How do their experiences differ from yours? See where your curiosity and interests lead you, keep your eyes and ears and mind open. </p>
<p>I will second emaraldEvi on keeping a diary. My high school senior daughter kept one during her Earthwatch program last summer, and used quotes from it extensively for her college application essays. </p>
<p>As others say, bring with reading or something you can do while homebound for the inevitable downtime.</p>