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I agree with what everyone else has said. Don't make it about you. The fact that they have lived such different lives than you means they have a wealth of knowledge and experiences that you don't have. They probably don't get a chance to talk about their lives that much. I've spent a lot of time around the elderly, and many older people just want to be heard. They have a lot to share, but they don't have many people that care to listen to them. Tell them you want to learn about your culture, your family, and their lives. Just let them talk and see where the conversation goes. You're not looking to find things in common or relate to them (even though that can happen). You're looking to experience them while they're here. Don't talk to them. Listen to them and see where the conversation flows.

Also, I'm not saying this is you at all, but I just want to say it. It's easy to fall into the trap and think that our families and people who live/lived in villages or developing countries are less sophisticated and don't know as much as we do, but people have lived like that a lot longer than the way we have in developed nations like the U.S. There's a lot of wisdom in the way they have done things, and they have their lifestyle because it works. There really is a lot to learn from it. I'm not going to get into the science about happiness and health, but there's a strong argument that the way we do things in the west is more toxic despite all our technological advancements.

I digress, though. My point is they have a lot of wisdom you can learn from. Ask them about their lives, childhood, parents, and grandparents. They're probably the only people alive that can teach you about your family and great great grandparents.

Go visit them. Take some pictures. When you have grandchildren show them the pictures. It’s the cirrrrrcle of liiiiifeeee.