Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The Kinder Grail


For months I searched in vain for these tiny ovals of chocolate covered treasures, only wanting to feel a threadlike connection to my passionate blogging friends worldwide who lust for and cherish the much coveted Holy Grail of Kinder.

I looked high and low, in large superstores and in lowly kiosks, on low tables of pocketsized items displayed on the sidewalks and on dusty sheets spread on the ground. But the Kinder-Surprise Egg was no where to be found.

I remained quiet, keeping my disappointment to myself, not letting anyone know of my secret desire. Just one was all I wanted. Just to hold it in my hand and to fondle the smooth, foil covered gem. I dreamt of one day being able to blog about my own wee egg.

But I just couldn't find one. I found Kinder Bueno and Kinder Chocolate but the Kinder-Surprise remained out of my reach. Until yesterday.
I ran into my newly discovered little supermarket near the gym and was just going to buy a package of spaghetti and some sauce when what did I spy as I waited in the checkout line?? Yes, the lilliputian lulu that I lusted after was finally within my reach. I didn't even think twice before jumping out of line and losing my place and I didn't care if others saw my trembling hands. My problem was I had no shopping basket- everything I needed was gathered up in my arms, now overflowing with items I no longer cared about. I grabbed two, one in each fist and went back to the end of the queue. I was thrilled.

I ran home with my treasures safe in my bag, all the while wondering how long I could resist cracking them open to find which toy I had been blessed with. I spilled the bag onto my kitchen table and took the eggs to my desk, placing them in two tiny candle holders- my makeshift eggcups. I sat and I read blogs, I got up and made tea, I went and watched tv, but these captivating creatures kept calling my name. They wanted to be opened and I would do my part.
How do you open your Kinder-Egg? I carefully unwrap it, trying not to tear the foil. Then I gently push my thumb into the top, cracking it ever so slightly. Do you eat it as you go along, or do you wait until it is in pieces before slipping a tiny morsel into your mouth? I eat it as I crack it open. When the chocolate covering is gone, I pry open the golden yellow plastic shell which lovingly protects the highly prized toy.

And there it is... my very own- what is it? For as you know, what it is is never obvious. No, you must work just a bit more for this bewitching bauble of joy. I unfold the directions and my nimble fingers scramble to construct my new little jewel. When I am done I sit it on my desk and stare in wonder. It is truly awesome. I am delighted with my possession and for the rest of the afternoon my eyes keep drifting back to it. I promise to cherish and protect it forever, and it just sits there, promising me nothing except to make me crave more.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cute ..........

( I gave up chocolate nearly two years ago now ) - I can almost taste it .....

Writer and Nomad said...

this is sooo funny. reminds me of the toys in cracker jack boxes that i fought my siblings over.

Tracie P. said...

that's cute! but i would be more pleased if they made the eggs in dark chocolate...

ITS said...

Wait, I had no idea that they were hard to find in Tirana. My little nephew would always hit me up for some, last time I was there...

This post is awesome though.

Lily said...

It is odd that you couldn't find these, they were very popular.
I had so many of these little toys neatly displayed on my shelf when I was younger, such fun to collect.

Oh, and this post is very cute.:)

Miss Kim said...

Oh Nicola... I know how much you love/d chocolate... it must be 'torture' for you now.
April... yes they are really the modern version of the Cracker Jack toy aren't they!
Tracie... but dark chocolate is so grown-up and these are for kinders!
ITS... they're probably not as hard to find as I thought. I just needed to look in the right place! And I love it when someone says something I've written is "awesome"! Thank you!
Lily... get back in touch with your inner child and go buy yourself an egg! Thanks for the 'cute' comment too!

Anonymous said...

I know that the ferrero used the make the kinder suprise eggs in Elbasan. I had a friend of mine who worked in that fabbric. Anyhow, I think that surprises on that egg are really so cool and funny; but I do not like the milky-choccolate taste of the eggs. Saluti

Miss Kim said...

Wow! In Elbasan?? That's really intriguing. I wonder if they are still made there??

Rainypete said...

My entire family is positively mental for Kinder Eggs. We have made it an integral part of our Christmas stockings.

Miss Kim said...

I bought 4 more today but they're in my desk drawer so I can't hear them yelling at me :)

verniciousknids said...

T1 you need to be careful; I've lost several close friends to the lure of Kinder Surprise...be careful out there ;)

nikinpos said...

THAT is probably the best toy I,ve ever seen come out of a Kinder egg!

The SeaWitch said...

My son was addicted to Kinder Surprises when he was 4 and he drove me crazy with them ... wanting me to help him put them together. I haven't got the patience for Lego, Kinder Surprises or anything that requires assembly. I can't even stand having to put batteries in the remote when we buy a new TV. LOL No Assembly Required are the 3 little words I love hearing. hehe
But hey, if I knew they meant so much to you, I would have gladly mailed you a dozen of them if only I had known. LOL

Miss Kim said...

vk... thank you for your concern- I am very aware that I have to keep this thing under control!
nik... isn't it just awesome?
Seawitch... I ADORE lego and mechano, and anything that needs putting together. In fact, in our house I am the techie person, hooking up the computers, tv's and such!

Unknown said...

Yeah - a new convert! I love the toy! I've secretly gotten P addicted too! He wants more and more and more... I just laughed. Why do all of us adults just want this for the suspense and curiousity..

Sal DeTraglia said...

Man! You're churning out great material this week. I loved the gym and rainbow posts, but nothing slays an expat like Kinder sweets. I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't love these products.

My personal passion is Kinder Bueno. But the Surprize Egg provides a great father/daughter bonding experience for me and my Pumpkin. She crushes the chocolate exterior and drops the pieces into my hand. I inhale the chocolate like a Hoover vacuum cleaner, then assemble the toy. She plays with it for two minutes, then the process repeats itself the next day.

BTW...I've never tasted it, but Canada seems to have its own candy that elicits similar passions. Pep Chews.

Sal

Ginnie Hart said...

Uh-oh! The bewitching hour has struck and Kim will never be the same! (Join the Club :)

venitha said...

Ha! I've never seen these before, but I can understand the craving for something like this from home. Glad you've found it - too cute!

Miss Kim said...

expatT... I asked my P if he had read my post on Kinder Eggs and he asked me "what's a Kinder Egg?" LOL
Sal... I've never heard of these Canadian Pep Chews! (and thanks for the compliments- It's amazing how writing improves when you make the effort)
Ginnie.. you knew it would get me eventually didn't you?!
Venitha... where ever you are I bet you can find them! Go hunting!

OTRgirl said...

Found you through 'here in korea'. I've never heard of the Kinder Eggs, but they sound great. Your post about the chipmunk was (as you said) sad and cute all at once. It's strange to be reminded that one country's common is another's exotic.

Kim/Thomas said...

you silly girl, I would have loved to send you some kinder surprise eggs:):):)

We love them, used to only get them in Germany, and my relatives or my mum would bring them back for us, now we have an abundance in canada, so when we see the frog, we grab some to bring back!

Katja R. said...

my fiance gave me one of those but it didnt' have a piano!

Anonymous said...

Oh my - the wonderful Kinder... I twist the 2 sides apart as to not break the chocolate. But there is always one dilema--- do you eat the chocolate first, or open your prize???