<p>1.) The immediate area around West campus (where the law school is) is a forest. East Campus is in a neighborhood that isn't the greatest, but I can't imagine you'll be out there very often anyway.</p>
<p>2.) The surrounding community in Durham is poor and not all that safe, although it is residential. One obvious advantage is that there's a lot of opportunities for community service and personal growth, if you're willing to take advantage of it.</p>
<p>The town/gown tensions are somewhat overplayed, or at least misattributed. There's very little anti-Duke sentiment per se, although it's safe to say that Durham residents generally feel uncomfortable among Duke's upper-class, proper-grammar types. They feel the same way, however, about UNC, too. (It's a myth -- and a very false one -- that the locals all root for UNC. As a matter of fact, they tend to be NC State fans.)</p>
<p>I was there for the first few months of the lacrosse scandal, although not for the aftermath.</p>
<p>3.) The area beyond Durham -- say, Raleigh, Cary, etc. -- is absolutely gorgeous, beautiful, quiet, and populated by really nice people. I really loved it at Duke. (Although, I do have very low standards for civility. I grew up in Berkeley, CA, and I felt very spoiled when I wasn't having people on the street trying to read my palms or give me tattoos of "Osama Bush Laden".)</p>
<p>It's astonishing being able to drive up to the grocery store and actually park without laboring to find a spot. It's nicer still to walk in and have the clerks joke with you. I'm sure people there take for granted accomodating hostesses at restaurants, short wait times at the bank, and restaurants where the chef will decide what she thinks you'll like best -- but these were all new and very refreshing experiences for me.</p>
<p>The area is beautiful; lush, brand new, with plenty of open space and bright blue skies. The weather is warm, but with just enough of the seasons that you feel like you're getting a complete experience.</p>