I did that a few times; talking to expats really gives a skewed (and to my taste usually ugly) view of a place. I rather befriend locals first and then go to meet them which we do now. Then you also get a nice perspective on expats from them which indeed usually is consistent with my views of them. This is a generalisation and obviously there are plenty exceptions, but it is rather unpleasant to sit with yet another someone who says "ye,yeyyeyeye,ye,ye,ye,ye" to all you say and then starts talking about their own enormously important company and/or life in a way too loud tone. Which is basically what I see the average expat do everywhere (besides the not listening to others, I was like that too). Again matter of taste and exceptions, just saying I do not find talking to expats giving you much or any info about a what a place 'is really like'.