Worthwhile? Possible to do in NYC? A completely ridiculous waste of time?

I've been fascinated by Uzbekistan from the moment in college when I discovered it existed. I would absolutely love to visit at some point in the future, although I have no plans to do so anytime soon. I'm looking for something entertaining and educational to do with my time these days, and this would certainly fit the bill.

I plan to call the Uzbek consulate in NYC next week to ask if there are any places in the city they could recommend. Columbia's website suggests they teach Uzbek, but this year they seem to have only intermediate-level courses.

Any FTers have any thoughts or suggestions on how/whether to study the language? Thanks.