Yankee Wahala Hero: Paula Gainey
Background
Mrs. Paula Gainey has spent her entire life in Florida. She was born in Jacksonville and then her family moved to Gainesville when she was only nine months old. Paula has been married to Robert Gainey for the past 33 years.
Robert is a salesman and also a part-time Yankee Wahala actor. Paula and Robert are the proud parents of Jared (a recent graduate from the University of Florida Law School), and Jenna, who recently survived her first Category 4 hurricane. Both are happily married to wonderful people that have added love and laughter to the Gainey family. Paula and Robert live with Hank, their beautiful chocolate lab.
Paula has worked in various positions at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL since 1984. When her children were young, she took a break for eight years to be a stay-at-home mom, and then once again became a full-time employee at the College. Paula is now the Academic Assistant in the Business Programs Department.
Pastimes
Apart from work, Paula is very active in her church and also teaches Sunday school. At 51 years of age, she graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management from Santa Fe College. Reading is her favorite past time. Paula loves animals, and enjoys spending time with her family.
Yankee Wahala Experiences
Paula used to love acting when she was a child, but had not had the opportunity to do so as an adult. She was therefore excited when she asked by JEKA to be part of the Yankee Wahala cast. Paula finds the radio experience different from her acting days. It has been such an amazing journey, and she has learned a lot about Ghanaian culture. Reading the scripts, and acting various characters, has taken Paula out of her comfort zone. She has also appreciated developing relationships with Kezia and Christine.
Paula has starred in six Yankee Wahala episodes: “Kokookor”, where she plays the role of the annoying neighbor of a Ghanaian woman; “Money Transfer,” a gossipy Wal-Mart employee; “In Funerals & in Debt,” a bosom buddy of a Ghanaian who is shocked about the difference in funeral practices between Ghanaian and American cultures; “The Chronic Wahala,” where once again, she is the sounding board as her Ghanaian friend bemoans her financial obligations back home; “The Physical,” an episode in which she plays the part of a doctor holding a consultation with a Ghanaian patient during an annual physical; and lastly, an office manager of an academic institution in “The Appointment.” Paula is always willing to volunteer her time on Yankee Wahala and as usual, she and the other actors have loved the camaraderie during the recording sessions.
Paula sums up her Yankee Wahala experience as follows:
“The thing I have learned (apart from the fun aspects) is that it has taught me not only about the Ghanaian culture, but has given me a sense of some of the stresses immigrants face as they try to adapt to the American culture. That is something I had not thought about much until I began acting on Yankee Wahala. It has given me the opportunity to learn about the various situations immigrants go through during their time in this country. Also, it has been amazing watching Yankee Wahala grow and metamorphosize over the past year or so.”
The JEKA Team loves and appreciates you, Paula!!