why does the sun rise in the east?

The Earth rotates from west to east (counter clockwise)

So anything coming over the eastern horizon is seen first and moves across the sky to the west.
West ------> East ((((O)))) Sun

West ----- (((((O))))) -----> East

(((((O))))) West -----> East

Pretty much like if you turned your back to a light and slowly turned around toward your left. The light would come into sight from your left, the direction you were turning. As you kept turning, the light would continue across your line of sight until it eventually disappeared over your right shoulder.

Because Earth rotates going from west to east.

Because of the way the earth rotates. It rotates towards the east, so the eastern most part will see the sun first.

It only appears to because the Earth rotates from West to East.

By definition of East.