Cape Town - “When you have a purpose, it itches so much that you cannot ignore it”.
These are the words of Faren Cassey Siebrits, 31, from Strandfontein who is living and travelling across the United States, and recently completed writing her first book.
While travelling she has been documenting her experiences, saying “As I live, I write”. This has now culminated in a book, titled ‘I SHOULD'VE I WOULD'VE I COULD'VE I DID IT!
Although travelling for the first time was daunting and she had thoughts of turning back at the boarding gates, Siebrits said she knew she was destined to push forward and see more of what the world had to offer. She has never looked back since.
Siebrits said she always loved reading, absorbing literature from across genres, from romance to stories based on true events, horrors and thrillers, to motivational and self-help books.
As a former member of Leisure Books, she’d often receive books which sparked her continued interest in reading.
The book comes from her documented experiences since July 2023, of working on a cruise ship and being part of the H-2B non-immigrant programme which allows her to work in the United States.
The book speaks of her travels and the challenges of this new venture.
“This book is about how I navigated through tough times and still made sure I achieved my dreams and goals.”
While it is still around three to four weeks from being published, she has already started on her second book in what is anticipated to be a part of a trilogy.
“I've always had this passion for books. I've always had this idea in my head that I want to write and was like, what do I write about? So I've been travelling on cruise ships for work. I'm doing a H-2B program where I work on land at the moment in the States. People don't really talk about what really happens, what is it really like, how do you get into it, how do you travel for work?”
“Nobody really speaks about the experiences and there’s a lot that happens because you know you’re away from home for a certain time and it's different when you’re a foreigner, and you actually experience other countries. So there’s a lot of challenges and it's also very fruitful, it's liberating as much as it's scary.”
“My faith has always been strong, I always believed in God, and the book is motivational. It's to encourage everyone else.”
She was encouraged by her mother Leona Siebrits, who had died of pancreatic cancer, to travel and experience the world. After resigning from her job in Cape Town and moving to Johannesburg, she set her sights on further travel.
“I wanted to challenge myself and I was like, if I can go out in to the world alone, I'm looking for another challenge. And it was definitely the book. And then I was very angry at the time as well and so I thought, let me get this out onto paper and I didn’t think it would actually end up being a book,” Siebrits said.
As she is currently based in Stamford, in Connecticut, the book will be published in the United States, but also will be brought to South Africa.
The book touches on faith and spirituality, strong components in her personal life. It aims to inspire people to take the leap and go after their dreams, discover their purpose, and is aimed particularly at those interested in or are currently travelling for work.
Siebrits who is awaiting the release date, started work on the book in July 2023.
Her journey can be followed through her TikTok account, under the username farencsiebrits or Fahrenheit°.
@farencsiebrits #fypシ #IDidIt ♬ original sound - Phoe Thar Lay Surprise
Weekend Argus