Hey Americans, please help me out with direction notions? (see details)?

This is how I learned which ways which:

. .N

W + E

. .S

Notice how West and East spell WE? Remember that and you'll always know West is on the left and East is on the right. North is always ahead, and South always opposite to North.

When they combine the words, like for example southeast or northwest, they mean its in the direction between those directions. So northeast is in this direction:

. .N * through the middle of north and east.

W + E

. .S

Now, as for knowing which way to go when directed. If theres a map available, it will usually have a compass on it. If not assume the top of the map is north, the left east, and so on. No map or compass? Well, just assume West means Left, North means Go Forward, East means Go Right, and South means go back. If it helps visualize how the place would look on a map, the top is probabaly north.

Directions like these are actually not usually used when being told which way to go. Its easier to say left or right. Most of the time, you only need to know on highways or long streets, because going one way is going north and the other way is south. In some cases, they might be east and west, but I've never seen it like that. Either way you don't need to know which way is which, because the signs tell you.

Alright, I hope this information helps. I didn't want to leave anything you might need to know out so sorry if it's long!

From experience and living outdoors. Paying attention to the motions of the Sun, Moon and Stars.

City people have no hope.

Look at a map of your city. Study it. The top of a map normally is North.

Well the compass would be the most effective tool. The sun can be used also since it rises in the east and sets in the west.