Modern Turkey spans bustling cosmopolitan centers, pastoral farming villages, barren wastelands, peaceful Aegean coastlines, and steep mountain regions. More than half of Turkey’s population lives in urban areas that juxtapose Western lifestyles with traditional-style mosques and markets.
Turkey is often described as a bridge between East and West. Due to centuries of interaction with Europe and Asia, Turks have incorporated features from both areas into their lifestyle and thinking. At the same time, they are patriotic and have developed a unique society. The people are proud of the achievements of their modern state as well as the accomplishments of their ancestors, who ruled great empires. Individually, Turks prize a good sense of humour; it is considered a sign of intelligence. Group orientation is valued over personal assertiveness or aggression, and honesty and intelligence are admirable qualities. People value a good education, secure employment, social status, and an honourable heritage.