How can I improve my sense of direction?

Can a better sense of direction be cultivated the more you travel? Or is it quite hard to improve?

• Like I've always remembered the route I've taken after being shown once and am good at orientating myself when reading the maps. But I have friends who say they get lost very easily. I wonder if a sense of direction can get better with practice

• Answer:

  I personally think sense of dierection has a lot to do with familiar surroundings. In Canada I had a fantastic sense of direction, but my first few months in Germany I was totally lost if I couldn't see the sun.