Whenever I learn enough of a new language to speak sentences I feel as though the person speaking isn’t quite “me” but rather a remix of me. We all have facets and speaking a different language brings that out.
After about a month there, keeping track of the cardinal points became second nature because it was a necessary part of functioning in those countries. Since directions in conversations usually are "Just walk two blocks then one East"
However when I'm home, I stop keeping track where the North is, because it is not that necessary. And while we also speak Spanish in my country, we tell directions in a different way, using words like "Turn right, the left, downhill, uphill.
[1] Addresses in Nicaragua and Costa Rica are very unusual for the rest of the world. For example "From the Cowboy's Sour Milk, Two Blocks West, Right hand" is a completely valid address in Managua.
I traveled extensively to the US for 15 years but never managed to subconsciously keep track of the cardinal directions.