Hey carolyn Assimilation is the process of taking in and fully understanding information or ideas. Social assimilation is improtant so that we have an adaption to new social and economic charecteristics, also so we can unite communities. Some challenges that an immigrant might face is health care, education, and social platforms. Some benchmarks that we could use is classes directed towards immigrants helping them in all the above areas and pointing them in the direction that they need and maybe even coming up with a "buddy" system allowing them to have a friend to help direct them while they adjust. Some problems that partners in an intercultural marriage may face is the difference that how a marriage is in one area verses how a marriage is here. For example some countries believe it is okay that a husband hits the wife if she is disobedient, where as here you are not allowed to do this and can in fact go to jail, this is just one of the manh differences they face when coming here.